Join the discussion on the following article:
Connecticut bridge problems delay Amtrak, commuter trains
What’s an emergency declaration? I wanna know because I’m going to Manhattan at the end of the month. I’m taking Amtrak to GCT. What should I do? We’ve scheduled plans already.
It allows the state to enter into contracts with needed repair contractors without the normal bid process, RFQ’s, etcetera. Used for emergencies where quick contracting actions are needed.
Mr. Carbone: If you are “taking Amtrak” you are going to Penn Station. At any rate, there is no need to worry, especially if you are traveling off-peak. I rode round trip South Norwalk-West Haven earlier this week, admittedly before this situation developed, and there was little or no delay crossing the bridge.
What I think is going on has to do with the north span. The north track (Tk3) on that span is out of service for major work on the bridge itself. The other track on that span (Tk1) is, from my observation, is taken out of service during construction hours. Both tracks on the south span (Tks 2&4) are in service.
Sounds like the north span is one stuck open so now they are having to run everything on Tks 2&4 during peak hours as well as off-peak. The entire bridge, both spans are at the end, if not past the end, of their service lives. So now the crisis at the Norwalk River Bridge of last year has now migrated, as I predicted it would, to another of the four troubled bridges before even one could be replaced.
But you know what? The centerpiece of Gov. Malloy’s set of transportation initiatives in his second term is to widen I-95 from the NY border to the RI border. He will not have the $$$ to do both. Which do YOU think will get priority?
It will be I-95.